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Deputy fatally shoots pit bull in Harford County

Officials said a Harford County Sheriff's deputy was forced to fatally shoot a pit bull in Edgewood.

EDGEWOOD, Md. -

Officials said a Harford County Sheriff's deputy was forced to fatally shoot a pit bull in Edgewood.

The Sheriff's Office said it responded just before 5 p.m. in the 1400 block of St. Michael Court for two aggressive pit bulls seen walking around the court.

A short time later, the sheriff's office received another call from someone in the 1400 block of St. Michael Court reporting the dogs were jumping at their door. Officials said one dog was male and the other a female dog.

Deputies arrived and observed the pit bulls that appeared at the time to be not aggressive. However, the deputies observed the male dog run toward an 11-year-old boy and bite him on the face and arm.

The Sheriff's Office said the child required minor medical attention from the bite.

A sheriff's deputy then returned to his police vehicle, got a shotgun and positioned himself behind the vehicle. Police said the male pit bull then charged the deputy, who shot the dog four times.

Police said that didn't stop the animal, so the deputy used his service handgun to fatally shoot it. The other dog ran off, but was secured and taken to its owner's home, where it was expected to be retrieved by Animal Control, police said.

The Sheriff's Office said a Use of Force report will be made, but the shooting was justified because it was in self-defense.

The deputy was not injured and will not be placed on administrative leave.

There was no immediate word on whether the dog owner will be charged. Officials said any charges brought forth would come from Animal Control.

The shooting comes as state legislators failed to come to an agreement during the special session on how to overturn a ruling by Maryland's highest court declaring pit bulls as inherently dangerous.